250 THE DARWIN MEMORIAL Ix 
Mr. Darwin’s work been fully recognised, but the 
world had discerned the simple, earnest, generous 
character of the man, that shone through every 
page of his writings. 
I imagine that reflections such as these swept 
through the minds alike of loving friends and of 
honourable antagonists when Mr. Darwin died ; 
and that they were at one in the desire to honour 
the memory of the man who, without fear and 
without reproach, had successfully fought the 
hardest intellectual battle of these days. 
It was in satisfaction of these just and generous 
impulses that our great naturalist’s remains were 
deposited in Westminster Abbey; and that, im- 
mediately afterwards, a public meeting, presided 
over by my lamented predecessor, Mr, Spottiswoode, 
was held in the rooms of the Royal Society, 
for the purpose of considering what further step 
should be taken towards the same end. 
It was resolved to invite subscriptions, with the 
view of erecting a statue of Mr. Darwin in some 
suitable locality ; and to devote any surplus to the 
advancement of the biological sciences. 
Contributions at once flowed in from Austria, 
Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, 
Holland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, 
Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the 
British Colonies, no less than from all parts of the 
three kingdoms ; and they came from all classes of 
the community. To mention one interesting case, 
